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内卷
nèi juǎn
involution or rat race
职场内卷让人疲惫不堪
The workplace rat race makes people exhausted
informal
A social and economic phenomenon where individuals or groups engage in excessive competition for limited resources, often leading to diminishing returns and increased stress
年轻人面临的内卷问题越来越严重
The problem of involution among young people is becoming more severe
Originally derived from sociology but widely used in discussions about work culture and social pressure
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage in modern China
The term is often used to describe the intense competition in urban workplaces and education systems
Gold Rule
Avoid negative connotations
While the term describes a real social phenomenon, it can carry negative connotations when used to criticize others
Word Origin
Derived from the sociological concept of 'involution' (内卷化), originally used to describe economic stagnation but now widely used to describe intense social competition
Usage Notes
Often used to describe the pressure to constantly improve oneself in work, education, or social status, leading to burnout and dissatisfaction
Word Breakdown
内
internal
root卷
to roll up or compete intensely
root汉英词典